Induction of early atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor-deficient mice immunized with beta2-glycoprotein I

BACKGROUND: Immunization with beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), the probable target of autoimmune anticardiolipin antibodies, results in experimental antiphospholipid syndrome in different mouse strains. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of beta2GPI immunization on the progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the first experiment, 3 groups of LDL receptor-deficient (LDL-RD) mice (n=15 per group) were immunized with either beta2GPI or ovalbumin or were not immunized and were fed a chow diet for 12 weeks. In a second experiment, 3 groups of LDL-RD mice (n=10 per group) were immunized similarly and fed an atherogenic diet for 6 weeks. All beta2GPI-immunized mice developed high titers of anti-beta2GPI antibodies as well as a specific lymph node proliferation to beta2GPI. The average cholesterol levels did not differ between the mice fed similar diets, regardless of the immunization protocol. Atherosclerosis was enhanced in the beta2GPI-immunized mice (mean aortic lesion, 26 000+/-5700 microm2) in comparison with their ovalbumin-immunized (mean, 3000+/-1099 microm2; P<0.01) and nonimmunized (mean, 2250+/-700 microm2; P<0.01) littermates. The average lesion size in the beta2GPI-immunized mice fed an atherogenic diet (mean, 98 000+/-8305 microm2) was larger than the ovalbumin-immunized mice (mean, 81 250+/-12 933 microm2; P=NS) or the nonimmunized controls (mean, 75 625+/-7281 microm2; P=NS). The atherosclerotic plaques in the beta2GPI-immunized mice appeared to be more mature, and denser infiltration of CD4 lymphocytes was present in the subendothelium of the aortic sinuses from this group of mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide the first direct evidence for the proatherogenic effect of ss2GPI immunization and establish a new model for immune-mediated atherosclerosis.     

Investigation of the laws governing the propagation of pyrolysis and combustion waves along a laser beam in propane

It was demonstrated experimentally that the preliminary conversion of a fuel mixture may appreciably accelerate the combustion reaction. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 24, 13–17 (March 26, 1998)     

Korrosionsverhalten von Plasma- Heißdraht-Auftrag-Schweißungen. Teil I: Beständigkeit von auftraggeschweißten Nickelbasislegierungen gegen Loch- und interkristalline Korrosion

The corrosion properties of Plasma-Hot-Wire-Surfacing Part one: resistance of Nickel-base-alloy claddings against pitting and intergranular attack This paper describes measurements at claddings of nickel-based-alloys C 276, C 4 and C 22 on the St 52-3 steel substrat produced by Plasma-Hot-Wire-Surfacing (PHS). The correct heat control during the welding process is a crucial factor for the preparation of nearly precipitate-free claddings. For this reason it was necessary to optimize all the process data. The claddings itself as well as the rolled reference material (both of nearly the same chemical composition) were examined by means of metallografical and microanalytical techniques. Corrosion measurements show, that the composite materials exhibit high resistance both against pitting and intergranular corrosion and comparable to the properties of the rolled reference material. This was shown by determination of the critical pitting temperature in quinary salt solution, by electrochemical techniques in acidic chloride solution and by investigation in iron-(III)-sulfate-sulphuric acid solution.     

Determinants of early and late results of combined valve operations and coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND: Factors determining the outcome of operative correction of valvular abnormalities combined with coronary artery bypass grafting are still incompletely defined. METHODS: Determinants of early and late (more than 90 days) deaths and event-free survival were studied for combined valve operations and coronary artery bypass grafting in 741 patients using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-day survival probability was 89% (95% confidence interval, 87% to 92%). Preoperative risk factors for early death were age, female sex, renal failure, New York Heart Association class IV or V, and mitral insufficiency. The operative risk factor was the duration of aortic cross-clamping. Five- and 10-year survival probabilities were 74% (95% confidence interval, 71% to 78%) and 43% (95% confidence interval, 36% to 50%), respectively. Preoperative risk factors for late death were age, preoperative renal failure, New York Heart Association class IV or V, vessel disease, and nonsinus rhythm. Five- and 10-year event-free survival probabilities were 57% (95% confidence interval, 53% to 61%) and 23% (95% confidence interval, 17% to 28%), respectively. Preoperative risk factors for non-event-free survival were age, female sex, reduced left ventricular function, mitral regurgitation, and pacemaker rhythm. CONCLUSION: The demographic factors of age and female sex; the comorbid condition of renal failure; the cardiac conditions of advanced New York Heart Association class, left ventricular function, mitral regurgitation, vessel disease, and cardiac rhythm; and the operative condition of ischemia time are the most important predictors of clinical outcome after combined valve operations and coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Uncertainty of discrete stochastic systems: general theory andstatistical inference

Uncertainty is defined in a new manner, as a function of discrete probability distributions satisfying a simple and intuitively appealing weak monotonicity condition. It is shown that every uncertainty is Schur-concave and conversely, every Schur-concave function of distributions is an uncertainty. General properties of uncertainties are systematically studied. Many characteristics of distributions introduced previously in statistical physics, mathematical statistics, econometrics and information theory are shown to be particular examples of uncertainties. New examples are introduced, and traditional as well as some new methods for obtaining uncertainties are discussed. The information defined by decrease of uncertainty resulting from an observation is investigated and related to previous concepts of information. Further, statistical inference about uncertainties is investigated, based on independent observations of system states. In particular, asymptotic distributions of maximum likelihood estimates of uncertainties and uncertainty-related functions are derived, and asymptotically α-level Neyman-Pearson tests of hypotheses about these system characteristics are presented     

Training for and maintaining interviewer consistency with the ASI

A case of an isolated tuberculous abscess of the liver in a 47-years-old woman with a 2-year history of disease is presented. Only 17 similar cases have been reported previously in the literature. The symptomatology of this patient, confused initially with a chronic calculous cholecystitis and then with an hepatic pyogenic abscess exemplify what has been described for this rare disease presentation. A review of the pertinent literature is presented.     

Nodular and granulomatous form of periarteritis nodosa caused by the hepatitis B virus

Human herpesvirus type 6 DNA derived from human breath was discovered to contaminate PCR reactions during routine reaction preparation. Parallel PCR experiments were conducted in which expiratory secretions were blocked by a surgical mask, while others were performed without any attempt to circumvent respiratory contamination. The experimenter was previously determined to harbor HHV-6 DNA in the saliva. All reactions in which expiration was obstructed were negative for HHV-6 DNA via PCR. Reactions in which there was no attempt to obstruct respiratory secretions were positive for HHV-6 DNA. These data suggest that PCR assays investigating the presence of HHV-6 may be highly susceptible to contamination from the experimenter leading to false positive results.     

Synthesis ofE,E-diene hydroperoxides via photoisomerization of protected hydroperoxides

A general approach toE,E-diene hydroperoxides is described based upon photoisomerization of readily availableZ,E-diene monoperoxyketals. Protection of aZ,E-diene hydroperoxide as the 2-methoxypropyl peroxyketal is followed by iodine-mediated photoisomerization to produce a mixture enriched in theE,E isomer. After chromatographic purification, deprotection of the peroxyketal with mild acid furnishes theE,E-diene hydroperoxide.     

Prevalence and role of anticardiolipin antibodies in Crohn disease

OBJECTIVES: Anticardiolipin antibodies belong to the group of antiphospholid antibodies, and may be seen in association with endothelial damage and recurrent vascular thrombosis. The aim of our study was to determine in patients with Crohn's disease the frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies, and to correlate their presence with clinical activity and treatment of the disease. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-eight sera from patients with Crohn's disease and 118 from age-matched controls were tested for IgG anticardiolipin antibodies. In the Crohn's disease group, we determined whether the patients had a past history of vascular thrombosis, a clinically active intestinal disease, or a current immunosuppressive therapy (steroids or azathioprine). RESULTS: Anticardiolipin antibodies were found significantly more often in patients with Crohn's disease than in controls: 11.0% versus 2.5%, P < 0.02. Three patients with Crohn's disease had a past history of vascular thrombosis, but none of them had anticardiolipin antibodies. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies was not correlated with the fact that patients had a clinically active disease (P = 0.77), or a current immunosuppressive therapy at the time of the serological test (P = 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significantly high prevalence of patients with anticardiolipin antibodies during Crohn's disease. The positivity of the test does not seem to be correlated to the existence of a past history of vascular thrombosis, nor to the clinical activity of the disease.     

The Gmicro/500 superscalar microprocessor with branch buffers

The Gmicro/500, which features a RISC-like dual-pipeline structure for high-speed execution of basic instructions and represents a significant advance for the TRON architecture, is presented. Upwardly-object-compatible with earlier members of the Gmicro series, this microprocessor uses resident dedicated branch buffers to greatly enhance branch instruction execution speed. Its microprograms simultaneously use dual execution blocks to execute high-level language instructions effectively. Fabricated with a 0.6-μm CMOS technology on a 10.9-mm×16-mm die, the chip operates at 50/66 MHz and achieves a processing rate of 100/132 MIPS